Mg. Madianos et M. Economou, The impact of a community mental health center on psychiatric hospitalizations in two Athens areas, COMM MENT H, 35(4), 1999, pp. 313-323
This paper explores the impact of a Community Mental Health Center interven
tion activities on the inpatient psychiatric morbidity of two areas served
by this center. Athens University established this Center, the first of its
kind in the Greater Athens area. A comparison among the utilization rates
of inpatient psychiatric services by community residents during the years 1
979, 1985, 1991 and 1995 is made. The results of the 1995 survey show a sig
nificant reduction in the number and days of hospitalization and a remarkab
le cut in compulsory admissions when compared with those in 1979. It is con
cluded that medication monitoring, outreach, domiciliary care for patients
in crisis, and day care are effective and robust principles of mental healt
h services.